He knew that court etiquette demanded the isolation of the Princess Hildegarde from male escort other than that formally provided.

The two soldiers detailed to act as her grooms or bodyguards were not, of course, to be considered.
So, of the morning, he went down to the military field to watch the maneuvers, which were drawing to a close; or rode out to the frontier, or took the side road to Eissen, where the summer palaces were.

But it was all dreary; the zest of living had somehow dropped out of things.
The road to Eissen began about six miles north of the base of the Dreiberg mountain.

It swerved to the east.

As Carmichael reached the fork his horse began to limp.